Shakin' the Family Tree

It was a cold January morning earlier this year when I finally connected the dots on Robert Lee Jones, and realized he was my grandfather's first cousin.

When I wrote that entry, I was curious about whether he married and had children.

He was married - twice.

The first time to Lutie J Lyster/Lister.



They married in Pope County on 12 Jul 1914.

Although the marriage record clearly spells Lutie's surname as Lyster, her death record in the Arkansas Death Index spells it Lister. That could be a misspelling by whomever created the death certificate or the informant.

I can't find her before her marriage to Lee. She died on 11 Jun 1942 in Sebastian County, where Lee was a supervisor at the Ft Smith Post Office.

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Lee married again, on 13 Sep 1942 to Grace I Schoeffe. She was 42, so I would not be surprised if her surname was from a previous marriage.

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At the time of my January post, I wondered if there were descendants of Robert Lee Jones who would be interested in exchanging information.

I haven't found any kids for him. I found Lee and Lutie in the 1920 census in Fort Smith, and there were no children living with them then. I haven't yet found him in the 1930 census.

Lee died on 28 Jul 1957 in Sebastian County, and he and Lutie are buried in Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith. I did not find a Find A Grave entry for Grace in that cemetery.

So now I am even more intensely curious about the man who obviously had such a close relationship with my grandfather, his first cousin, but who seems to have not had a family of his own...

Ordering the death records will be next...

Because I am working on Anson's descendants, his second marriage certificate, to Ruth Woodrow, is the featured historic document today.



No 279
License Issued Aug 2d 1849

Anson Balding to Ruth Woodrow

I certify that on the 2d. August 1849 I joined in marriage Anson Balding and Ruth Woodrow.

Gilbert E Winters
Mayor of Mt. Gilead

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Mt. Gilead is a town in Morrow County, OH.

I think this is the first relative I've run into whose marriage was performed by the town mayor.

Anson was my first cousin, five times removed. He and Ruth both died in Arkansas, probably Pulaski County, where I live now.

I have yet to find their graves.

Maddening.

Thomas' older brother, A M Callaway, was my g-g-grandfather, Allen Mason "Mace" Callaway, and gave permission for the marriage, as well as serving as bondsman for his little brother. As the nearest living relative of the said Thomas Callaway I hereby consent to the marriage of the above parties.



Perhaps other family members felt Thomas and Isibelle were too young to marry. They were both barely 18 years old.

The marriage took place on 17 Dec 1876, and Thomas and Isibelle were married for 24 years, until her death on 6 Oct 1900. They had 13 children, and many of their descendants still live in Clark County, AR.